Effect of psychoeducation on short-term outcome in patients with late life depression: A randomized control trial - Protocol

BACKGROUND: This is the PhD thesis protocol of an ongoing study entitled ‘Effect of Psychoeducation on short- term outcome in patients with Late Life Depression: A Randomized Control Trial’. Psychoeducation is a proof-based therapeutic intervention for patients and their caretakers/family members that provides plenty of information and support for better understanding and coping up with the illness, which is being diagnosed. AIM: The aim is to examine the effect of psychoeducation on short- term outcome in patients with late life depression. HYPOTHESIS: The hypothesis is that psychoeducation will improve outcome in patients with late life depression at 4 weeks. The sample size is 154. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The methodology is that patients aged 60 years and above coming to Out Patient Department (OPD) of the Department of Geriatric Mental Health, King George's Medical University and having the first episode of depression, which has been clinically diagnosed, will be taken. Then, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) 6.0.0 will be applied for the confirmation of diagnosis. After confirmation, Hindi Mental Status Examination (HMSE) will be done to know the cognitive status, those scoring 24 and above on HMSE will be included in the study. The included patients will be evaluated on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Knowledge Attitude Experience (KAE) Questionnaire. Next, the patients will be randomized in case group and control group. Case group will be given intervention of ‘psychoeducation’ through a video, and control group will be given ‘placebo’ through a video. For both the groups, the first follow up termed as ‘booster session’ will be at 2 weeks +/- 4 days from the baseline and second follow up will be at 4 weeks +/- 4 days from the baseline. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data will be recorded on the spreadsheet and the results will be analyzed using the statistical software.